Saturday, July 05, 2008
|
MARKETING
Networking Review
Developing your business by word of mouth can be accomplished
through persistence, determination and positive attitudes.
The following steps are vitally important:
Create a Plan
 Review current
memberships, then
research and try out other
organizations / groups.
Plan memberships
by type and
purpose
Over-concentration
in any one type
defeats the purpose.
Define The Plan
List industries,
professions and
individuals with whom you
would like
to do business.
Compile and
categorize this list.
How do you
know these industries,
professions and individuals?
What is your
contact sphere and your
sphere of influence?
Set 30-, 60-
and 90-day goals for
attending events,
for making contacts
and / or appointments.
Prepare For Action
Make sure your
collateral materials
(business cards,
brochures press
kits...) send a clear
message.
Poorly
designed / poor quality business
cards and marketing
materials send a
very loud and negative
subliminal
message.
Be ready with
a concise, 30 to 60
second statement of your
business
and desired clients, a memory
"hook"
and LOTS of business cards.
Take Action
Set a realistic
goal of the number of
people you want to meet at
each
event.
Act like the
host...not a guest.
Ask and
LISTEN for the WHO, WHAT,
WHERE, WHEN and WHY.
Always try to
provide a lead, referral or
helpful information.
Record date,
event, notes, comments,
reminders and impressions
on the
business cards you collect.
Try to spend
10 minutes or less with
each person.
Do not try to
transact business at the
event. Set another time
to talk or
meet privately.
If you
promise to follow-up... Do so!
Seek
speaking engagements; submit
articles and
product / service
announcements; and become a
quotable expert.
Review Progress
Track all of
your results in order to
determine successes and
failures.
Determine those
contacts and
businesses to which you have
made
referrals, but, who have not
reciprocated.
 Discard them.
At the end of
each fiscal year, review
all activites.
|
